16 Best Non-Toxic & Eco-Friendly Pillows

An eco-friendly pillow on a bed with a cute wall

Pillows might seem like the cherry on top of a beautifully-made bed, but they really are the whole darn dessert when it comes to getting a good night’s rest. 

The right pillow helps support the structures of your head and neck to keep your shoulders, hips, and spine in alignment, allowing you to relax and rest comfortably. But even if you’ve got the right shape and size of your pillow, it’s still important to be mindful of the materials it’s made out of. 

After all, pillows join a very exclusive category of items that touch your face day-in and day-out, and if you’re anything like us, you want the best for your health — and the health of the environment around you.

Of course, if you’ve already fallen in love with your current pillow, there’s no need to buy anything new. We all know the most sustainable thing you can buy is nothing at all. 

However, if you’ve been on the lookout for new pillows (perhaps to complete your eco-friendly bedroom buildout?), we’ve aimed to make that research process as light as a feather — all while making mindful choices for our homes and the planet. 

Keep reading for some helpful information about picking your perfect pillow, our recommendations for the best eco-friendly pillows out there — and perhaps some more pillow puns.

You might also like our deep-dives on: 

By the way, some of the products and links in this article are partners and affiliates, which means we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Everything in this article was independently and honestly written by the Good Good Good team. Thank you for your support!

What makes a pillow eco-friendly (and non-toxic)? 

If you’ve explored the options of sustainable mattresses, you already know that the sourcing, manufacturing, and distribution of your bed essentials really do impact your own little world — and the world around us. 

In fact, most standard pillows are made with nightmare-fuel materials like petroleum-based polyurethane foam. While these materials might seem fine off the bat, they can emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that can be harmful to the planet, and your own health. 

The best route to sweet dreams starts with finding pillows made of non-toxic materials. 

Materials

Simple illustration of materials

Don’t take this as an indisputable fact, but when 1980s R&B band Eurythmics sang “sweet dreams are made of this,” they may have, of course, been referring to the materials that make up an eco-friendly pillow. 

Since pillows are made with a variety of different materials (for casing, inner-fluff, and more), you’ll want to look for any of the following textiles and fibers when shopping for an eco-friendly or non-toxic pillow:

  • Certified organic cotton
  • Certified organic latex
  • Eucalyptus or kapok tree fibers
  • Certified ethical wool
  • Responsibly-sourced down
  • Buckwheat hulls
  • Sugarcane fibers
  • Bio-engineered memory foams

Certifications 

Simple illustration of certification document

When we mention “certified” materials, that’s not just some arbitrary word. There are a number of third-party environmental and health protection organizations that set rigorous standards for sourcing and manufacturing, so you can feel confident in your consumer choices. 

Non-toxic and eco-friendly pillows are often certified or endorsed with the following labels:

Environmental Impact

Simple illustration of hands and the earth

Brands and bedding companies that care about the health of you and the planet often proudly share their environmental impact initiatives. 

In these cases, it should be easy for you to find information about carbon offsets, thoughtful packaging, connections to environmental nonprofits (like 1% for the Planet) or brands that are Climate Neutral certified (like us!)

Social Impact

Simple illustration of social impact

Another strong indicator of an ethical brand is one that transparently shares its supply chain and labor practices. Lots of these brands might have B Corp and Fair Trade certifications. 

Our reviews of organic & non-toxic pillow brands

The brands you see listed in this section sent members of our team sample pillows to review for this article. (Our reviews are always honest. Receiving free products for testing never impacts our writing — and brands don’t have any influence on our writing or editorial process.) 

Savvy Rest 

Showing the fluff inside a Kapok pillow from Savvy Rest
Kapok pillow from Savvy Rest / Photo courtesy of Savvy Rest

What’s good: Savvy Rest is a certified B Corp that sells natural latex mattresses, and certified textiles and pillows. The brand prioritizes prioritizes health impact, materials re-use, renewable energy, water stewardship, social fairness, and more.

The brand also offsets annual estimated carbon emissions with the help of Carbon Fund, which helps businesses and individuals reduce their climate impact.

A Kappok pillow on a bed next to blankets
Photo by Johnathan Huang for Good Good Good

Materials: Savvy Rest offers a number of different pillows, utilizing materials like certified organic cotton, wool, and kapok, as well as GOLS-certified dunlop latex and Cradle to Cradle GOLD and FSC-certified talalay latex.

A Kappok pillow showing the fluff inside — on a bed next to blankets
Photo by Johnathan Huang for Good Good Good

Pillow options:

Closeup view of a pillow
Photo by Johnathan Huang for Good Good Good

Jonathan’s thoughts: I tried the organic Kapok pillow from Savvy Rest, which is a fluffy pillow made with Kapok fibers, which come from the ceiba tree and are a plant-based alternative to down. The pillow is encased in an inner case and super soft flannel-feeling outer case and is “adjustable,” meaning you can unzip the inner case and remove cotton to your personal preference of fluffiness. 

The quality of this pillow is definitely top-tier. It came in a single plastic bag in a cardboard box, and you can genuinely tell how soft and natural the materials are from the minute you unpackage it. The outside is thick and soft, and the stitching feels sturdy. 

The pillow was pretty firm and packed with cotton upon arrival and has really held its shape. I like how plush it feels while also being firm and supportive.

Shop pillows from Savvy Rest

Holy Lamb Organics

Peek inside of the Holy Lamb Organics pillow
Wool Wrapped Latex Bed Pillow / Photo courtesy of Holy Lamb Organics

What’s good: Holy Lamb Organics has a small and sustainable operation out of Oakville, Washington that relies on skilled manufacturers to create bed and bath staples. 

The brand uses certified organic materials and has a partnership with California mill Woolgatherer to ensure practices that are good for animals (who are sheared like it’s a yearly haircut!), the land, and the community. 

The Fair Trade certified company also has certifications and testing clearance from GOTS, OEKO-TEX, Eco Wool, UC Davis Toxicology Lab, and Element Materials Technology. 

Materials: Holy Lamb utilizes organic cotton fabric, organic latex, premium natural American wool, and certified organic New Zealand wool.

Pillow options:

Closeup view of the Wool Bed Pillow on a bed
Photo by Jessica Irvin for Good Good Good

Jessica’s thoughts: I got to try out the natural wool-wrapped latex pillow from Holy Lamb Organics. I really think it’s a great option for all!

The wool is soft and cushy but the pillow holds its shape better than many other soft pillows do. The exterior fabric of the pillow is a minimal but beautiful organic cotton fabric. 

I love that the packaging was plastic-free, making it easy to properly dispose of everything responsibly.

Shop pillows from Holy Lamb Organics

Saatva

Woman laying against three pillows with a contrasting line around the seam of the pillows
Latex Pillow / Photo courtesy of Saatva

What’s good: Saatva is an eco-conscious mattress brand that offers ethically made, supportive sleep essentials.

By sourcing Fair Trade and certified organic materials, adhering to ethical labor standards, and planting trees with Evertreen, Saatva is another great choice for your next snooze. 

Materials: Saatva sells pillows made with either natural shredded latex, chemical-free memory foam, and down alternative fibers. They are all covered with certified organic cotton. 

Pillow options:

Two Saatva pillows side by side on a bed with a wooden headboard
Photo by Branden Harvey for Good Good Good

Branden’s thoughts: I’ve been testing two of the Natural Latex Pillows from Saatva and have slept on them for more than 100 nights so far. The first thing I appreciated about the pillows is how “heavy” they are — they find a nice balance between being soft, enveloping my head, while also being firm and supportive.

A hand pushing into Saatva pillows to show how soft yet firm they are
These pillows find a nice balance between softness and support / Photo by Branden Harvey for Good Good Good

Aesthetically, they look so much better than my previous (kind of flat) pillows, because they look more full and cloud-like. 

My one key note: I found that the pillows are so big that some of my pillow cases couldn’t fully contain them. They seem to be just a little bit bigger than a standard pillow.

Small white dog sitting in front of a Saatva pillow popping out of the pillow case
My dog "modeling" in front of my pillow popping out of the pillow case / Photo by Branden Harvey for Good Good Good

Fortunately, I just switched from open-ended pillowcases to the kind with a zipper — no big deal. But worth considering picking up a new set of (eco-friendly) pillowcases if you’re upgrading from standard pillows. 

Shop pillows from Saatva

Nest Bedding

A man laying on Nest Bedding pillows
Easy Breather Shredded Foam Pillow / Photo courtesy of Nest Bedding

What’s good: Nest Bedding carries three types of sustainably-sourced pillow options — and you can even take a quiz to find your perfect fit!

The brand is Fair Trade, GOLS, OEKO-TEX, and Certi-PUR certified, and select products (including all mattresses) are made in the U.S. 

A Nest Bedding pillow on a bed
Photo by Jessica Irvin for Good Good Good

Materials: Some of Nest’s pillows use non-toxic certified virgin foam, and others are made with premium shredded natural latex. 

Pillow options:

Pillow that says 'The Easy Breather Pillow'
Photo by Jessica Irvin for Good Good Good

Jessica’s thoughts: I tested out two of the Easy Breather Natural Latex pillows. I was pleased that the pillows arrived with minimal plastic, sealed with plastic but otherwise packaged entirely in cardboard.

The first word that comes to mind when I think of this pillow is ‘cozy.’ The exterior fabric is soft to the touch and it is definitely on the softer, squishier side of firmness. 

If you like more structure for your pillows, this might not be the one for you, or you might need to double up with a second pillow underneath.

Shop pillows from Nest Bedding

Coop Home Goods

A woman lays on pillows with a unique stiching pattern
The Original Pillow / Photo courtesy of Coop Home Goods

What’s good: Coop Home Goods offers customizable pillows that are all CertiPUR-US and Greenguard Gold certified. Since there are many different types of Coop pillows, you can find your perfect nap-time companion by taking a pillow quiz or setting up a consultation with a Coop Pillow Coach. 

Materials: Although Coop pillows aren’t made with the recycled or latex materials of some other bedding companies, its pillows are non-toxic.

Coop creates shredded memory foam filler in-house, which is CertiPUR-US and Greenguard Gold certified, meeting strict standards for content, emissions, and durability. The casing of Coop’s pillows is also made with a polyester blend using bamboo-derived viscose rayon.

A closeup of the unique stitching pattern on the Coop Home Goods Pillow
Photo by Kamrin Baker for Good Good Good

Pillow options: 

Coop Home Goods packaging that says "Be Different. Be Unique" and a bag of extra stuffing that says "For more oomph - add me"
Photo by Kamrin Baker for Good Good Good

Kamrin’s thoughts: Although Coop pillows aren’t nearly as eco-friendly as others on this list, I was excited to try the Original Pillows out, since they’re at a more accessible price point and have a reliable memory foam filler that I’ve always liked for my neck and spine.

My pillows came in a cardboard box containing a rolled up pillow, and a bag of extra filler, making the pillow adjustable to my standards. That being said, I thought this additional filler was all totally necessary to bulk up the pillow enough for the support I traditionally need. That might not be the case for everyone, but I did think the pillow was pretty skimpy before I filled it up more. 

After sleeping on my Coop pillows for a couple of weeks, I do think they are a solid option, though I would suggest considering making the investment in a more sustainable latex pillow if you can. 

Shop pillows from Coop

Other sustainable pillow companies to shop

Avocado Green Mattress

A man hugs a pillow and smiles
The Avocado Green Pillow / Photo courtesy of Avocado Green Mattress

What’s good: Avocado Green Mattress is dedicated to a mantra of “natural, safe, and responsible.” The brand aims to raise the bar for other sustainable brands, too, and leads the way as a B Corp, Climate Neutral certified company, with products certified by GOTS, GOLS, Made Safe, and Greenguard.

Avocado also works with 1% for the Planet to donate one percent of its annual revenue to environmental organizations. We love their mattress and look forward to testing out their pillows, too.

Materials: Avocado’s pillows are made with organic, certified materials like latex, kapok, and cotton.

Pillow options:

Shop pillows from Avocado

SIJO

Closeup view of white pillows with a unique, curvy pattern
CLIMA Cloud Support Pillow / Photo courtesy of SIJO

What’s good: SIJO is an AAPI-owned luxury sustainable bedding company that creates high-performance products that put the planet first. With certified sustainable materials and inventive cooling tech, you’re in for a night of temperature-regulated dreams.

Additionally, SIJO’s manufacturers make fair wages, have access to a number of insurance plans, and one month of vacation time. 

Materials: SIJO offers two types of pillows: a plush eucalyptus down-alternative that uses recycled polyester, as well as a firm, cooling talalay latex pillow that helps relieve neck pressure. 

Both pillows use fabrics made from Tencel Lyocell made with FSC and PEFC-certified eucalyptus fibers, and are OEKO-TEX 100-certified. 

Pillow options:

Shop pillows from SIJO

Coyuchi

A very uniquely shaped pillow with a divot for your head
Turiya Latex Pillow / Photo courtesy of Coyuchi

What’s good: Coyuchi uses a circular business model and only sources organic materials to bring shoppers ethical and sustainable bedding essentials. 

The brand is certified by GOTS, GOLS, Fair Trade, and Made Safe, and champions climate nonprofits as a partner with 1% for the Planet. 

Even better? Coyuchi’s 2nd Home recycling program encourages shoppers to recycle their textiles through the company — and then purchase their new products made with those recycled materials! 

Materials: Coyuchi’s pillows are made with organic dunlop latex, 100% organic cotton, or humanely-sourced down from an Indiana duck farm. 

Pillow options:

Shop pillows from Coyuchi

Takasa

A woman hugs a pillow with a modern design in bed
Takasa pillow in a Icon Quilted pillowcase / Photo courtesy of Takasa

What’s good: Takasa is a BC Benefit Company (essentially Canada’s version of a B Corp) that plants a tree for every purchase and uses Fair Trade and GOTS-certified materials. Takasa is also well on its way to total carbon neutrality

Materials: Takasa pillows are made with GOTS-certified organic wool batting and cotton.

Pillow options:

Shop pillows from Takasa

Buffy

Several colorful pastel pillows
Cloud Pillow / Photo courtesy of Buffy

What’s good: Buffy is newer to the bedding scene, but only uses the good stuff in its products. Additionally, the brand sets off all carbon emissions from shipments, encourages donating used textiles, and has robust plans for its closed-loop business model and take-back program.

Materials: Buffy pillows are made with either all-natural latex, or recycled polyester fill that is certified by either the Global Recycling Standard or Recycled Claims Standard. 

The outside of its pillows are made with soft hemp or eucalyptus lyocell.

Pillow options:

Shop pillows from Buffy

Brentwood Home

A hand showing the inside of a pillow
Molded Latex Pillow / Photo courtesy of Brentwood Home

What’s good: Brentwood Home is owned by Avocado and echoes its parent company’s priorities of inventive and eco-conscious materials.  

With trusted certifications (like Fair Trade, FSC, Greenguard, GOTS Organic, Recycling Claim Standards, and more) the Climate Neutral certified brand offsets emissions at all levels of business, while delivering a safe and comfortable product right to your door.

Materials: Brentwood Home carries a variety of shapes and sizes of pillows made with materials like certified organic latex, cotton, and tencel wood pulp. 

Its memory foam is also made with BioFoam, which is biologically made using vegetable materials, such as corn, sunflower seeds, castor oil beans, and soybeans. 

Brentwood’s charcoal pillows are also made with CertiPUR-US-certified charcoal graphite memory foam, which is a natural cooling material without any harmful chemicals. 

Pillow options:

Shop pillows from Brentwood Home

Boll & Branch

Three pillows stacked on top of bedding
Down Chamber Pillow / Photo courtesy of Boll & Branch

What’s good: Boll & Branch is specifically dedicated to making Fair Trade bedding items that are 100% traceable from farm to finish

This means that the brand works directly with family-owned farms and factories to ensure its organic cotton and non-toxic materials are sourced and manufactured sustainably and ethically.

Boll & Branch milestones include purchasing over 5.3 million pounds of fair trade organic cotton and paying over $880,000 in additional wages to farmers and factory workers to sustain and invest in their communities. Now that’s what we call dreamy.

Materials: Boll & Branch pillows are made with International Down Standard-certified down and alternative down fillers. The shell of each pillow is made with 100% organic cotton.

Pillow options:

Shop pillows from Boll & Branch

Happsy

Two pillows on a bed
Organic Latex & Cotton Pillow / Photo courtesy of Happsy

What’s good: Happsy is all about health, comfort, and environment. The brand is a member of 1% for the Planet, and financially supports a variety of sustainability initiatives, including Women’s Voices For The Earth, Kids For Saving Earth, Sustainable Furnishings Council, and more.

The latex used in Happsy products is also GOLS or Rainforest Alliance FSC Certified and approved per the GOTS organic standard

Materials: Happsy figured out a formula and kept it simple. The brand’s one pillow offering is an organic latex core wrapped in organic cotton fabric. Designed for both softness and support, these materials work together for proper spinal alignment and a good night’s rest.

Pillow options:

Shop pillows from Happsy

Rawganique

Six off-white pillows in varying sizes stacked on top of each other
Cotton Bed Pillow / Photo courtesy of Rawganique

What’s good: Rawganique is a brand that creates organic and chemical-free lifestyle goods, from clothes and shoes, to bed and bath essentials. Based on a homestead in Denman Island in Canada, the company grows, weaves, knits, and sews many of its items in-house, and has warehouses in the U.S. and Canada. 

Materials: Rawganique carries a number of various pillows from different U.S. manufacturers — all GOTS certified, hypoallergenic, chemical-free, and organic. 

They use organic cotton, linen, and hemp casing and are made with wild kapok, organic latex, buckwheat, wool, and hemp. 

Pillow options:

Shop pillows from Rawganique

Naturepedic

Stuffing spilling out of pillow
Adjustable Latex Pillow / Photo courtesy of Naturepedic

What’s good: Naturepedic believes in “caring for the environment inside out.” 

The brand is a member of 1% for the Planet, and is certified by GOTS, GOLS, Made Safe, Greenguard, PETA, Green America, and the Organic Content Standard. Additionally, Naturepedic works to increase its use of renewable energy, among other sustainability initiatives.

Aside from 1% for the Planet, Naturepedic also works in partnership with over 30 other ethical business and climate organizations, like Textile Exchange, Regenerative Rising, Organic Farmers Association, and more. That’s a club we want to join!

Materials: Naturepedic pillows are manufactured with materials like GOLS or FSC-certified latex, organic cotton, and a biopolymer PLA batting, which is a sustainable fiber derived from non-GMO sugarcane. 

Pillow options:

Shop pillows from Naturepedic

Birch

Two white pillows on a bed with a comforter
Eco-Rest Pillow / Photo courtesy of Birch

What’s good: A sibling company to Helix, Birch is a big name for organic sleep products. The brand’s materials are certified by the Rainforest Alliance, Greenguard, Forest Stewardship Council, Fair Trade, GOTS, and GOLS.

All of Birch’s products are recyclable and are designed to be naturally comfortable, all without threatening the health of you or the environment. 

Materials: Birch pillows are made with the same intentionality as Birch mattresses, using ethically-sourced materials, such as organic cotton, wool, and talalay latex

Pillow options:

Shop pillows from Birch

Article Details

April 4, 2023 6:28 AM
June 28, 2023
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